It’s been a decade since the financial crisis, yet small business lending has not recovered. Why is this the case? And why is getting a loan so difficult? To learn why, let’s look at two big factors that affect your chances of getting a business loan:

The digital revolution is here. Today, over 2 billion people use smartphones across the globe and the numbers continue to rapidly grow. As a result, smartphones are opening fresh new opportunities for commerce. If you examine the Google Analytics data of your business website, chances are you’ll notice that most of your traffic comes from a mobile device. A small business looking for growth can take advantage of this massive number of potential clients by creating digital marketing platforms that are mobile friendly and suit the needs of these users. We’ll explore why your veteran-owned business needs to be mobile friendly and how you can take advantage of this technology to continue to grow your business.

With the latest federal government shutdown preparing to enter its fourth week, government employees aren’t the only ones feeling the effects. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is among the federal agencies impacted, delivering a significant blow to the American small business community. It’s projected that the current backlog of business loan applications could take weeks or even months to clear, leaving small business owners who were counting on those funds to grow or maintain their business in limbo.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

Military veterans are one of the most entrepreneurial groups in the nation for a good reason. As they're very likely to be highly disciplined and extremely careful with both planning and execution, their backgrounds translate well into the world of business.

Despite all that, veteran entrepreneurs, like any other entrepreneur, will make mistakes. Both mistakes and failure are inevitable. Whether it is your first business you're starting—or your fifth—you will run into mistakes. Fortunately, many of them can be avoided. Below is a list of five common mistakes and solutions that you can use to prevent them from occurring in your business.

As a small business owner, working capital is your lifeblood. Cash-flow management is crucial to your success, which sometimes means you need to take out a small business loan to keep the gears of your business whirring. Equipment replacement, new hires, scaling your business or gearing up for a big contract are all good reasons to start looking for a loan.

There are lots of funding options out there—which is both a good and a bad thing for you. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sudden plethora of emails, phone calls, letters and ads from lenders—how do you plow through the weeds and find the best deal for your business? Is there a clear winner or are they all similar?

We want to help you find the best way to do an apples-to-apples comparison of the loan options out there to help you make the most informed decision when choosing your business loan.

This year could be your small business’s best yet—and right now is the perfect time to devise new strategies to fuel growth and make changes for your business’s long-term success. Here are just a few resolutions every small business owner can make to get 2019 off to a great start:

In this digital age of getting bombarded by marketing from all angles, you may not even notice logos anymore. They’re so ingrained into our culture that some brand marks have become part of cultural aesthetic, taking on lives of their own outside of their brand’s marketing materials.

But if you’re not a huge international corporation, you may think your logo isn’t important. Don’t let it be an afterthought! Imagine the market is like a dating app and your business’ logo is your profile picture. For better or for worse, people will judge based on that first impression, regardless of how amazing your business is once you actually read its profile. A great logo will make prospective customers more likely to “swipe right”- which means more conversions and brand loyalty for your business!

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

For some, their professional endeavors include leading others. At one time or another, most of us who strive for this have had the image of ourselves in the corner office, floor to ceiling glass windows, marveling at where we are. Do you want to know what you have in common with the people in that image right now? They were once where you are - the first time/new manager.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions, policies, or positions of StreetShares or any of its affiliates.

Having the desire and drive to have a side business on top of a full-time job is an empowering moment. You could be at the point where you want to change your quality of life, make extra money or not have to work for anyone other than yourself. Sometimes being an entrepreneur has us stuck between the worlds of the unattainable and the whimsical. I'm here to tell you that it's not either of those things. What it is, however, is passion, dedication and a ton of work. Before you jump ship on your full-time job to become a full-time entrepreneur, there are a few things to consider to ensure the journey to your version of freedom is as smooth as possible.

The potential for another partial government shutdown is looming on the horizon. Is your small business prepared? Let’s take a look at a few things you should know and remember from the 17-day 2013 shutdown that may affect you during another potential government shutdown.¹